The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may have a ripple effect that puts men at a risk of infertility. This article reviews the possible link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and male reproduction following speculations that the single- stranded RNA viruses could directly invade the testes. SARS-CoV-2 enters the human lung cells via angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACEs, its products, angiotensin-(1-7), and its receptor, MAS receptor, are expressed in the testes. Although the binding of SAR-CoV-2 to ACE2 could lead to excess angiotensin II with possible enhanced inflammation, angiotensin II could also promote sperm motility. In addition, the pathophysiology of SAR-CoV-2, especially in relation to male fertility, is yet to be fully understood; the suppression of androgen observed in COVID-19 infected men calls for the need for andrological assessment in infected male.

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The etiology of preterm birth is mostly underestimated in developing countries. Current presumptions are that both environmental and genetic factors contribute towards its onset and are responsible for the higher frequency of neonatal deaths. Despite there being considerable scientific data on preterm births across the world, the frequency of its occurrence and threat to the survival of neonates are alarming. It is important that variations among populations should be considered as the socioeconomic status, climatic zones and other genetic, as well as epidemiological factors vary, so as to draw definitive conclusions on the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Predictive biomarkers, prevention and optimum treatment strategies are still being discovered, but with well-designed studies and collaborative efforts, maternal and child healthcare can be prioritized. The purpose of this review is to understand the contributing factors of preterm birth as it is a critical issue and needs in-depth understanding with planned scientific studies to decrease the rate of preterm birth and complication related to it. Furthermore, the review enlists various factors linked to preterm birth viz, high maternal age, psychological state, environmental contaminants, infection, cervical length, addiction, cytokine interaction, preeclampsia, genetic composition, ethnicity, oxidative stress and microRNAs. We have summarized the status of preterm birth, its causes, and future line of work required to prevent mortality of mother and neonate that will help us design successful studies which aim to reduce preterm births effectively.

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Objective: To investigate the potential activity of protocatechuic acid in female Wistar rats with letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Thirty rats were divided into five groups of six each. Group 1 received 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose orally and served as the normal control group; group 2 was treated orally with 1 mg/kg of letrozole daily for 21 days and served as the PCOS induced group; group 3 was orally administered with letrozole of 1 mg/kg for 21 days and further administered with standard drug of clomiphene citrate at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight in 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose per oral and served as the standard group; groups 4 and 5 were administered with letrozole of 1 mg/kg for 21 days and further treated with protocatechuic acid orally at low dose of 5 mg/kg body weight and high dose of 15 mg/kg body weight respectively for 15 days. At the end of the study period, rats were subjected for the estimation of invasive blood pressure and heart rate, biochemical estimations and antioxidant assay. In addition, ovarian histomorphology was examined. Results: The PCOS was confirmed in the letrozole induced rats with increased concentration of androgen, abnormal lipid levels, glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and also depletion of antioxidants. After protocatechuic acid treatment, the increased levels of testosterone due to induction of PCOS were restored to normal levels. Additionally, there was a consistent decrease in luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels in the treatment groups, followed by decrease in the number of cysts after treatment with protocatechuic acid. Histopathological observations showed a remarkable recovery of the ovarian tissue and the presence of normalized structure of antral follicle. Protocatechuic acid treatment restored all the parameters to normalcy and abolished cysts formation in ovaries of female rats. Conclusions: Protocatechuic acid shows potential protective effects in letrozole-induced PCOS rats. The protective effect is comparable to that of clomiphene citrate and thus shows its potential in the treatment of PCOS.

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Objective: To evaluate the effects of semen collection methods and different cooling rates on cooled and frozen-thawed Saanen goat semen. Methods: Twenty bucks were divided into two groups of 10 animals per group based on semen collection methods: artificial vagina and electro-ejaculator. Samples from each collection method were pooled and diluted with Tris-based extender. The pooled semen was divided into two cooling methods: slow cooling and fast cooling. Sperm motility and velocity, sperm plasma membrane integrity, sperm viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA integrity were evaluated before dilution, immediately after cooling at 4 °C and at 24 h after freezing by using computer assisted sperm analyser method and epifluorescence microscope. Results: Mean values for total motility, rapid-speed and progressive motile spermatozoa were significantly higher in semen collected with artificial vagina than electro-ejaculator (P<0.001). Slow cooling resulted in higher percentages of total motile, rapid-speed and progressive motile spermatozoa as compared to fast cooling (P<0.05). The post-thaw percentage of rapid-speed spermatozoa collected by artificial vagina in slow cooled sperm was significantly higher as compared to electro-ejaculator method (P<0.05). The mean values of curvilinear velocity and straight-line velocity were significantly higher in slow cooled semen obtained by artificial vagina (P<0.001). Similarly, the combination of artificial vagina and slow cooling resulted in significantly higher post-thaw percentages of straight-line velocity, average-path velocity, sperm plasma membrane integrity, viability and acrosome integrity (P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in slow cooling between artificial vagina and electro-ejaculator in terms of post-thaw sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA integrity (P>0.05). Conclusions: The use of artificial vagina and slow cooling rate in cryopreservation protocol improves the cooled and post-thaw sperm quality of Saanen buck semen.

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Objective: To investigate predictors of caring behaviors of mothers of premature infants based on the health belief model. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by using the structural equation modeling on 168 mothers of premature infants, who were selected by convenience sampling method from October 2017 to February 2018 in Iran. Data were collected by using a standard scale. Validity and reliability of all data collection tools were approved. Data were analyzed by using SPSS V.16 and Mplus6 software. Results: The structural equation modeling of the initial health belief model did not have a good fit, but the fitness of model 2 obtaining from the modified initial model was confirmed by changes in locations of constructs. None of constructs of model 2 had a significant positive association with the caring behavior of mothers of premature infants and only 2.8% of variance of caring behaviors in mothers could be predicted by the sum of variables of demographic characteristics and the modified health belief model constructs. Conclusions: Given that the findings do not approve the use of the health belief model in predicting determinants of caring behavior of mothers of premature infants, it is suggested to apply this model to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the health belief model on the caring behavior of mothers.

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Objective: To assess the stability of 10 candidate internal control genes (ICGs), namely GAPDH, ACTB, RPL23, RPS15A, ATPSF1, GLUT5, HMBS, ATP2B4, PPIA, and BRP to normalize the transcriptional data from testes samples of Zebu and crossbred bulls. Methods: Total RNA was isolated from testicular tissue of Zebu and crossbred bulls (n=6 each) between 2-8 years of age. cDNA was synthesized, and the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. The cycle threshold values were used for the analysis of the stability of ICGs. Four different statistical algorithms: geNorm, Normfinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder, were used to assess the stability of these genes. Results: ATPSF1, HMBS, PPIA, and RPS15A were the most reliable and stable ICGs for Zebu testes, and ATPSF1, RPL23, and PPIA for crossbred testes. Conclusions: A panel of stable ICGs (ATPSF1, HMBS, PPIA, RPS15A for Zebu and ATPSF1, RPL23, and PPIA for crossbred) for normalization of gene expression data in testes samples can be helpful for researchers to conduct functional genomics studies at the testicular level in cattle bulls.

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